Aston Villa manager Dean Smith all smiles after he guided the club to promotion. (Getty Images)
According to Sky Sports (h/t Birmingham Live), Aston Villa are looking to bring in Wylan Cyprien from OGC Nice. Newcastle are also interested in him. The report claims that Aston Villa have contacted the player’s representatives as Dean Smith wants some new faces in the middle of the park.
Wylan Cyprien is a 25-year-old French midfielder who plays for OGC Nice. He started his career at FC Paris in 2006 and joined RC Lens in 2008. He progressed through the youth ranks and was finally promoted to the senior team in 2013. In 4 seasons for them, he played 112 times, scored 10 goals and assisted 6 (source – Transfermarkt).
He moved to OGC Nice in 2016 and since then, he has been an integral part of the squad. This has also been his most prolific spell as a footballer. In 109 appearances, he has scored 23 goals and assisted another 12.
Cyprien has a couple of games under his belt for the France youth sides but is yet to make an appearance for the senior team.
Aston Villa are a bit light in the middle of the park, with just John McGinn, Connor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury as recognised central midfielders. Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba are more defensive-minded midfielders. They lack someone who can provide creativity from the midfield.
Cyprien fits the bill with his ability to play in so many midfield positions. But most of all, his goal contributions are what that should appeal to Dean Smith. He has a penchant for popping up with goals as well as assists on a regular basis, as evident from his numbers for Nice.
It’s clear that Villa need someone to share the goal-scoring duties with Jack Grealish. The captain has been single-handedly responsible for the team’s creativity and goals. A player like Cyprien not only adds to the midfield depth but also eases the burden of creativity on Grealish.
Aston Villa sure do look like they need Cyprien and should work towards a deal. As mentioned in the report, Cyprien is in the final year of his contract and teams are trying to reduce the transfer fee to half its original value.